Search

One of the greatest ever disco songs comes to us from the one-hit-wonder songstress from Memphis, Anita Ward. In 1979, she gave us the chart topping Ring My Bell. It’s disappointing that she didn’t deliver more, with her follow up single Don’t Drop My Love peaking at #87 in the states.

Ring My Bell was way ahead of its time and is still cocktail club-worthy today without the enhancement through remixes. However, if you do want to hear a good mashup, download Why Not Ring My Bell (Anita Ward vs Alter Ego) through Gigantic Club here.

New on the scene are French indie-synth band, Poni Hoax. A sexed up mix of Whomadewho, The Rapture and Hot Chip, this five piece are sure to make it big over 2010, definitely ones to watch. Despite releasing in albums in 2006 and 2008, 2010 is set to be their year…okay, we’ve maybe been a bit slow to pick these guys up. I’m not sure how they slipped under our radar for so long, but they’re well worth the wait. So, if you were as slow as us, then prepare to be amazed!

Well we’ve already seen Canberra , Perth and Sydney Stereo blow the roof, now this weekend, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane get ready for the one of the biggest electro festivals of the year! Check out the line ups a set times at the website, www.stereosonic.com.au, so that you can get your itinerary all worked out because you don’t want to be missing out on anyone.

Here are our highlight choices:

Deadmau5 (obviously)

I don’t think there is any huge reason to justify our choice here. One of the major headliners of the festival, this Canadian prog house DJ has experienced HUGE success in music production over the past year. Now he has the chance to show off his live DJs skills in Aus also. Get ready for the Mouse!

The Swedish producer is owner and founder of Pickadoll Records, through which he has released stuff by Sebastien Ledger and Dada Life. Not only this, but he produced remixes for Alanis Morisette and Kleerup. Don’t miss his first Australian appearance!

These guys (and girl) were amazing at Parklife last year so i was very glad to see them join the lineup for Stereosonic this year. They’re Canadian Electropop with a lot of girl power sound, but also cool for the guys. They recently did a huge track with Martin Solvieg for the current Jean Paul Gualtier advertisement campaign and things are definitely looking on the up as since their first album, they keep getting bigger and bigger!

The Italian duo return to Australia for Stereosonic after headlining the festival last year. Some cities copped the short end of the set times with Crookers starting the day off as opposed to finishing it, so they will happy to see them return as well as those who did get to see them and how great they were.

Like most things French, DJ/Producer Surkin is amazing. His in your face techie electro has proven a hit with many remixes over the past couple of years plus a few EPs. Will be awesome to see him live.

The NYC producer runs the dance label Trouble and Bass and also plays under his pseudynom, Curses! Until 2005, he played more breakcore music, but now Luca Venezia has ventured more into house sounding tracks, remixing the likes of Armand Van Helden, Moby, Rex The Dog, Robyn, Little Boots and Blaqstarr just to name a few. His next album should be released early next year.

Veteran German techno band, Zombie Nation, will be returning to Australia for the first time in a few years. They reached cult status with their 1999 hit, Kenfraft 400, but since then have changed their tune a little to more a more electro sound.

It’s getting into summer and we are being hit hard with music festivals! Looking ahead to summer, here are the highlights for this coming festival season;

BDO: probably the biggest music festival in the country, sells out in most states before the second lineup is released, Jan 17-Jan31st. It was a bit tragic that they didn’t end up pulling through with David Bowie, but they did get Muse, Lilly Allen, Groove Armada, Mars Volta, Ladyhawke, Kasabian, Midnight Juggernauts, and one of the best live acts I’ve ever seen, Peaches!

Field Day: In Syndey on New years day, even after a huge night out, Fuzzy never fail to give people to get right back up and get their party on again. This year highlights include 2 Many DJs, Fake Blood, Datarock, Proxy, Sinden, Fred Falke, Amanda Blank, Treasure Fingers and Juan Maclean for the first time Australia.

Future Music Festival: (Feb 27-Mar 8) The lineup was ony recently released, with prodigy returning to our shores to headline, along with Franz Ferdinand, Booka Shade, Eric Morillo, Sven Vath, Does it Offend You Yeah and Boys Noize on the list so far.

Stereosonic:(Nov 28- Dec 6) Back with a lineup that out does last year, the best to see are Deadmau5, Axwell, John Dahlback, The Crookers, Surkin, Bloody Beetroots, Chicane, Drop The Lime, Alter Ego, Zombie Nation, Grafton Primary, Acid Jacks, Juan Kidd and Kidda (random live act).